Collapsible baby bed



T. W. SCHETTLER, JR

March 28, 1944.

COLLAPS IBLE BABY BED 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lFiled May 22, 1942 d Trng/VD@ March 28 1944A r. w. scHEKTTLER, .JRI

COLLAPS IBLE BABY BED Filed May 22, 1942 -2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 28, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COLLAPSIBLE BABY BED Theodore W. Schettler, Jr., Detroit, Mich. Application May 22, 1942, Serial No. 444,027

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a demountable, portable baby bed, a primary object of which is to provide a structure which may be collapsed into a compact arrangement whereby the entire structure may be brought into a package of comparativelysmall dimensions permitting it to be carried about easily. Reference is made to my copending application for U. S, Letters Patent, Serial No. 327,760, led April 4, 1940, and which has resulted in Patent No, 2,287,907, issued June 30, 1942, particularly in regard to the frame construction. ',v, A further primary object of the invention is to 'provide removable side walls and floor so formed and assembled that the framework with the Wall and oor members will be employed to maintain the framework in a rigid set up condition and which will permit the removal of those members particularly for washing or cleaning thereof. lIn the form of the invention herein shown, these wall and floor members are made out of cotton duck or canvas although the material may be variedin accordance with what may be obtained, the essential factor being, however, that the material be 'exible, readily cleaned, and of sufficient strength to perform its functions as will hereinafter be more fully set out.

A further primary object of the invention is to so form a unit having the various side wall and floor members cooperate with each other and the frame, or to cooperate one with the other, to theend that a minimum amount of material is required and yet the maximum possible structural strength is afforded not only in the mate# rial itself but also in conjunction with the frame itself. A still further important object of the invention'is to provide the wall and oor members in such shapes and so interconnecting with.

the framework'that there are no openings left within which a baby may become caught or may escape from the bed.

Other objects and advantages-of the invention, such vas the achievement of the foregoing objects Vwith minimum weight, relatively low cost of pro- Fig. 3, a bottom plan view; and

Fig. 4, a longitudinal vertical section on the line 4-4 in Fig. 3.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

In the particular form of the invention herein shown, I employ a frame structure as shown and described in the above indicated application for U. S. Letters Patent, Serial No. 327,760, which has resulted in Patent No. 2,287,907, issued June 30, 1942, This structure consists essentially of four corner posts I5, I6, I'I and I8, each preferably having a caster I9 fitted in its lower end. Each of these corner posts has an upper end portion 20, 2|, 22 and 23 respectively hinged thereto by side straps 24 in such manner that these end portions, when carried to their vertical positions in alignment with their respective posts in the form shown in Fig, 1, are limited in outward travel to that vertical position in each case by reason of the under, outer edge coming into abutment with the top end of its post, the under ends of these respective end portions being rounded olil on their insides to permit the posts thereunder to swing inwardly one toward the other Within the perspective planes of the legs I5, I8 forming the one plane and I6, I'Iv forming the other plane. A top side rail 25 is rigidly con'- nected by its outer ends to the respective upper post end portions 20 and 23 so that relative movement between the post I5 and its upper end portion 20 and likewise the end portion 23 and its post I8 is had by shifting the posts one toward the other rather than rocking the end portions on the posts.

In the same manner a top side rail 26 is rigidly connected by its ends to the post top end portions 2| and 22. A top end rail 85 is hinged by one end to the top post portion 20 so as to swing in a plane including the side rail 25, the other end swinging into the clip 30 `fixed on the top post portion 2| and there secured by any suitable means, either by a latch or by a pin 86 extending therethrough. In like manner the other top end rail 81 is hinged to the top post portion 22 to swing in a plane including the side rail 26. Its free end is likewise detachably engaged with the top post'portion 23 by any suitable means. Lower end rails 89 and 90 iit into post carried abutments 9| by their respective ends so that the rails may be pulled outwardly horizontally from between the posts, the abutments 9| forming stops to limit inward travel of the end rails one toward the other. In like manner the lower side rails 92 and 93 are entered by their ends into inches.

abutments carried by the respective posts to permit withdrawal of those rails horizontally but holding the rails in position against inward travel from their normal positions between the posts.V

The side rail 25 is initially passed through a loop provided along the top edge of a side wall 94 before the rail 25 is interengaged with the upper end post sections 20 and 23. The side wall 94, preferably provided with screened Ventilating windows 95 therein, is formed to have a length which will permit it to extend into substantial abutment by its vertical edges with the posts I5 and I8 and to hang downwardly below the lower rail 92 a distance such as about four inches.

In like manner the opposite side wall 98 preferably has the rail 2B passed through a looped over portion along its top edge to permit that side wall 96 to hang down below the opposite side rail 93 a like distance, such as about four The exact amount of overhang is not critical but it is found in practice that such an amount of four inches works out to very good advantage.

An end wall 91 has the rail 85 slipped through an upper looped over end portion so that the wall may hang from the rail 85 and extend downwardly below the lower end rail 89 a distance preferably at least fourrinches in accordance with the dimensions above indicated. The end wall 91 is likewise provided, the same as the side walls 94 and 96, with the screened Ventilating windows 975. Also the side wall 96 and the end wall 91 are suiiiciently long toV have their vertical edges substantially abut the respective corner posts between which they hang.

An opposite end wall 98 has the top end rail 81 extending through a loop formed on its upper end to have the wall 98 hang downwardly therefrom with its Vertical edges in substantial abutment with the corner posts |1 and I9, and to have its lower edge hang a distance below the lower end rail 99, such as the four inches above indicated. This end wall 98 may also be provided with one or more screened Ventilating windows 95 not shown.

A ocr 99 is constructed to have a Wide hem or loop along each of its opposite sides and across one end through which hems the lower side rails 92 and 93 and the end rail 90 may respectively be inserted so as to permit those rails to bevengaged by their ends into their respective abutments 9| as provided on the corner posts. The width of the iioor99 is made to be such that the floor material will have to be pulled tautly in order to permit engagement of the side rails 92 and 93 with those abutments so that when the engagement is effected, the floor 99 will be stretched rather tautly therebetween. There is no adjustment necessary for take-up of sag of the oor in this lateral dimension.

Following the positioning of the door 99 on the three rails 92, 93 and 90 as above indicated, theV rail 89 is placed in positionbetween the posts I5 and |6-to have its ends engage in the respective abutments 9| provided in the posts. The end of the iioor 99 is brought over the top side of the rail 89 and carried downwardly and back thereunder, Figs. 1 and 3. A plurality of straps |00, herein shown as three in number, are engaged by respective ends to a marginal portion of this'underturned end of the floor 99 and these straps |99, through buckles lill carried thereon, are interengaged with similar straps |02 through those buckles, these straps |02 being engaged by opposite ends to the underside of the floor 99, herein shown as interengaged within a seam |03 extending across the iioor. By pulling the straps |02 through the buckles |0I, the floor 99 is stretched longitudinally around over the rail 89 so as to place the door under tension in that direction.

A strap |04 is secured to the lower end of the end wall 91, Fig. 3, centrally thereof, and is provided with a buckle |05 on its free end through which is engaged by one end a strap |06 which is secured by its other end centrally of and to the lower end of the end wall 98. By pulling the strap |04 through the buckle |05, the two lower F hanging ends of these end walls 91 and 98 are pulled one toward the other to draw them around their respective lower end rails 89 and 90 under the floor 99 to place the end members in tension. It is to be noted that the tension is produced by pulling on the single set of straps attached respectively to the central portions of these end walls.

The side wall 94 has a pair of straps |01 and |08 each secured by ends to the lower hanging portion of the wall. It is to be noted that these straps |01 and |08 are each attached a distance to each side of the vertical center line of the side wall 94 to have the strap attachment zones removed a third of the distance in each instance from the vertical edges of the wall. In like manner straps |09 and ||0 are respectively secured by ends to the lower end of the side wall 96, and these straps |09 and ||0 carry respectively at their other ends the buckles and |2,` through which buckles the straps carried respectively for adjustable engagement thereby. By pulling the straps |01 andy |08 around through the buckles |v and ||2, the two side walls 94 and 96 are placedunder tension vertically by means of the straps pulling their lower ends respectively around under the side rails 92 and 93. It is to be noted that these setsv of straps |01, |09 and |08, ||0 pass under the straps |04 and |06 as well as passing under thev floor 99. All of these -straps serve to support the oor 99 from its underside to prevent undue bagging thereof. y

Each corner of the lower underturned portion of the side wall 94 is provided with some sort of a fastener, such as a hook H3, and to cooperate therewith, adjacent corners of the underturned portions of the end walls 91 and 98 are provided with an eye I4 with which the hook |.|3` may enf gage by stretching the two wall members; .In other words, to effect this engagement between the hook and eye, the two members must be pulled up tautly. In the same mannen the lower underturned corners of the side wall 96 are' pra.- vided respectively with hooks ||3 likewise-em gaged with the adjacent corners of the. end wal-IS 91 and 98. In other words,the tension setup in the corner area of onev wall member cooperates` to produce a like tension in a corner area portion of the adjacent. wall member: without havingv to employ separate straps orv otherA tightening.

means.

The foregoing description has been made in reference to the mode of assembling the bed'. To disassemble the bed, the same steps are followed in reverse order and then the frame members'may be rolled up in the wall andv floor members to effect a neat, compact bundle, all of Ywhich may be inserted into a carrying bag (not shown) ifso desired. Ordinarily the side walls 94and 96 are' Y |01 and. |08 are- 2,345,295 A not removed from the side rails 25 and 26, and

neither are the end walls removed from the end rails 85 and 81 since the side and end walls may be rolled up around those members with the posts folded therewithin in two separate units. However, when the side walls are to be cleaned, the top rails 25 and 26 may be disengaged from their respective post top end portions to permit sliding the wall members thereoif.` As a matter of precaution, the vertical edges of the end and side wall 4members may be tied together around the outsides of the respective posts by any suitable means, such as by straps fl l5 secured to one wall member and detachably engaging with the other in any suitable manner to keep the vertical wall edgesfrom being pushed away from the posts.

While I have herein shown and described my invention in the one particular form, it is obvious that structural changes may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention `.and I therefore do not desire to be limited :to that precise form beyond the limitations as :may be imposed by the following claims.

I claim:

1. For a bed having a collapsible frame including upper and lower side and end rails, the lower rails being inserted by their ends into side and end openings respectively provided in corner posts, the combination of a fabric oor having loops along its sides and loop means at one end, through which loops the lower side rails may be inserted, and through which end loop means one of said end rails may be passed, the floor being formed to be sufficiently long to extend across and beyond the opposite one of said rails and to wrap around thereunder; adjustable, releasable strap and buckle means interengaging the under side of the floor between said two end rails and the floor end portion wrapped under said opposite rail whereby the floor may be stretched tautly and pull said lower end rails into compressive engagement with said posts and retain said lower side rails from post displacement; side fabric walls, each having upper loop means through which the respective upper side rails may be passed to allow the walls to hang therefrom, said walls having vertical lengths exceeding the spacing apart of the upper and lower rails to provide lower portions sufficiently long for wrapping around the respective lower side rails under said floor; adjustable, releasable strap and buckle means for interengaging said side wall lower portions centrally thereof under said floor; end fabric walls, each having upper loop means through which the top end rails may be passed, and being sufficiently long vertically to -hang by lower end portions below said lower end rails; adjustable strap and buckle means centrally-engaging said end wall lower end portions tof-'wrap them around said lower end rails under said floor one toward the other and under the sidey vvwith lnterengaging strap and buckle means; and means for detachably interengaging in overlapping relation under said floor, adjacent lower corners of said side and end walls to resist displacement by load on the straps.

2. For-a bed having a collapsible frame including upper and lower side and end rails, the lower rails being inserted by their ends into side and end openings respectively provided in corner posts, the combination of a fabric floor having loopsalong its sides and loop means at one end, through which loops the lower side rails may be inserted, and through which end loop means one of said end rails may be passed. the iioor being formed to be sufliciently long to extend across and beyond the opposite one of said rails and to wrap around thereunder; adjustable, releasable strap and buckle means interengaging the under side of the floor between said two end rails and the floor end portion wrapped under said opposite rail whereby the floor may be stretched tautly and pull said lower end rails into compressive engagement with said posts and retain said lower side rails from post displacement; side fabric walls, each having upper loop means through which the respective upper side rails may be passed to allow the walls to hang therefrom, saidwalls having vertical lengths exceeding the spacing apart of the upper and lower rails to provide lower portions suiliciently long for wrapping around the respective lower side rails under said floor; adjustable, releasable strap and buckle means for interengaging said side wall lower portions centrally thereof under said floor; end fabric walls. each having upper loop means through which the top end rails may be passed, and being sumciently long vertically to hang by lower end portions below said lower end rails; adjustable strap and buckle means centrally engaging said end wall lower end portions to wrap them around said lower end rails under said floor one toward the other and under the side with interengaging strap and buckle means; and means for detachably interengaging in overlapping relation under said floor, adjacent lower corners of said side and end walls to resist displacement by load on the straps, said loops and loop means consisting of permanent hems, and said lower end portions of said side and end walls terminating a short distance within said lower side and end rails to leave uncovered the major area of the underside of said floor for contact with the straps.

3. For a collapsible bed having corner posts and intervening upper and lowe1` side and end rails reinforced and held in assembled positions by means of a fabric iioor and side and end walls, the combination of a fabric floor engaging about said lower side and end walls; means for holding the iloor in a normally stretched condition between one set of opposing lower rails; side and end fabric walls each having a vertical length exceeding the distance between the upper and lower rails to provide lower end portions turnable under said floor; buckle regulated straps interconnecting the central portions of the turned-under parts of said side walls, and like straps interconnecting the central portions of the turned-under end walls; and means for interengaging respective adjacent corners of said wall lower end portions one with the other under said floor to resist displacement by load on the straps.

4. For a collapsible bed having corner posts and intervening upper and lower side and end rails reinforced and held in assembled positions by means of a fabric floor and side and end walls, the combination of a fabric floor engaging about said 1ower side and end walls; means for holding the floor in a normally stretched condition between one set of opposing lower rails; side and end fabric walls each having a Vertical length exceeding the distance between the upper and 1ower rails to provide lower end portions turnable under said floor; and means for interengaging respective adjacent lcorners of said wall lower end portions one with the other under said floor; and means comprising straps and buckles cooperating with the straps under said floor for interconnecting the central portions of said lower end portions of the end Walls; and like strap and buckle means under said floor and under said last means for interconnecting the central portions of said lower end portions of said side walls and cooperating therewith to support the iioor.

5. In a collapsible bed having corner posts and a pair of upper and lower rails on each side and a pair of upper and lower rails at each end, the combination of a fabric floor with loops on each side edge and one end receiving corresponding lower side and end rails and having the other end of the floor Wrapped around and extending under the floor by a free end, straps attached at one of their ends to said free end of the iioor, straps attached to the underside of the floor between the ends of the floor to extend toward said floor free end, buckles uniting. the rst and last straps in pairs, fabric wall sides and ends with loops attaching them at one of their edges to the'corresponding upper rails and having their lower portions turned under the floor by free ends, straps attaching the said free end of the floor to the opposite underturned free end of the fabric wall end of 'the bed and buckles adjusting the length of the straps, straps crossing said other straps and connecting the underturned free end portions of the side members together and buckles adjusting the lengths of the straps. A* 6. In a collapsible bed having corner Aposts and a pair of upper and lower railsr on each,

side and a pair of upper and lower rails at eachl end, the combination of a fabricv Iioor with loops on each side edge and one end receiving correspending lower side and end rails and having the other end of the door wrapped around and ex tending under the oor by a Afree end, straps attached at one of their ends to said free end of the floor, straps attached to the underside of the oor between the ends of the iioor ,to extend toward said floor free end, buckles ,uniting the first and last straps in pairs, fabric wall sides and ends with. loops attaching themat, one of their edges tothe corresponding upper rails and having their lower portions turned nnder the iloor by free ends, straps attaching .the said free end of the oor to the opposite ,Linders turned free end of the fabric wall'end of the 'v bed and buckles adjusting the length of. 'the straps, straps crossing said rother straps and @ons necting the underturned freel end portions fof the side members togetherr and buckles adjusting the lengths of the straps, andmeans. fasten.-4 ing together the adjacent free ends of the under..4 turned wall side and end members.

THEODORE W. SCHETTLER, JR. 

